Tahoe parks open with May's bloom

Memorial Day is a little more than a month away and the U.S. Forest Service and California State Parks are preparing to open beaches, campgrounds and other sites around South Shore.

The Forest Service's Tallac Historic Site will open on weekends as of May 24. Starting June 21, the site will open daily through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

Other Forest Service openings, which are weather-dependent, include: Fallen Leaf Campground (May 9); Nevada Beach (May 10) and Campground (May 9); Meeks Bay and Campground (May 10); Baldwin Beach (May 17); Pope Beach (May 24); and Bayview Campground (May 24).

State parks is accepting reservations for D.L. Bliss, Emerald Bay Boat Camp and Emerald Bay Eagle Point Campground starting June 13.

Requiring reservations at the boat camp will be a first, said Diane Arlin, a state parks employee. In the past, the boat camp's 20 sites have been operated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All of the area campgrounds are popular during the summer months. D.L. Bliss' 168 sites are usually booked solid from the Fourth of July until the end of August. The Eagle Point Campground's 100 sites typically fill up, too. Today about 1 foot of snow covers the D.L. Bliss campsites.

"It should be gone by Memorial Day weekend; it's melting pretty fast," Arlin said. "But it depends whether maintenance can get in and get all the restrooms ready."

To book a reservation at any of the California State Parks call (800) 444-7275. Reservations require payment and cannot exceed two weeks.